Help with science fair project on bacterial mutation.

[bvrhockey]

Hey,

I'm in 9th grade and am doing a project where I will be mutating (if thats an accurate term for it) E. Coli with UV light and a microwave (Dentists here dont allow people to use their x-ray machines). I have a introduction paper due tomorow and am looking for some ideas on where this is used in science today. Thanks in advance.

[mith]

Sorry, microwave will only heat up the cells and possibly kill them but the wavelength is too long to affect dna/rna.

[MrMistery]

Also, from what i know there is almost no bacteria that can survive under intense UV light, that's why they have UV sterilizers

[Poison]

Yes I think so. You will kill them.

[bvrhockey]

My intentions were to use an actual x-ray, but those were thwarted. With no time remaining to hand in my topic, my teacher made me do the UV light and the microwave. It will be just like the majority of my past science fairs and I will BS my way through it. Thanks for the help.

[mith]

try the uv, it might work, otherwise pick another project. there's tonnes of projects out there and I think it's wrong for your teacher to suggest one that you do not have the facilities or apparatus to deal with.